Abstract

Whey protein concentrate (WPC, 35 and 80% of protein), hydrolysate (WPH), isolate (WPI) and casein were evaluated regarding to essential and non-essential aminoacids and mineral content. WPC35, WPC80 and WPH were the products with the highest concentrations of macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, Na and P) reaching contents between 46.9 and 83.8% of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for calcium. For microelements (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) higher amounts were observed for casein with Zn and Fe content of 40.1 and 93.0% of the DRIs, respectively. For WPI values lower than 3.2% of the DRIs of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn and Zn were observed, but WPI was a source of sulfur-containing and branched-chain aminoacids, lysine, threonine and total essential aminoacids whereas casein could be considered source of aromatic aminoacids with contents that reached the DRIs values. The sodium content (up to 59.3% of DRIs) was high for all whey proteins.